초록 ▼

The invention relates to valves for air compressors, and more particularly, to an unloading/venting valve having integrated therewith a high-pressure protection valve where a pressure reducing valve has a discharge port in communication with the air system and a vent. The valve utilizes a valve body

The invention relates to valves for air compressors, and more particularly, to an unloading/venting valve having integrated therewith a high-pressure protection valve where a pressure reducing valve has a discharge port in communication with the air system and a vent. The valve utilizes a valve body biased to form a seal between the discharge port and the vent. A governor monitors the air pressure in the system and generates a signal to move the valve body against the bias and unloads the system when a first predetermined threshold pressure is reached. In the event of a failure of the valve body to move at the first threshold pressure, the valve body is movable against the bias in response to a second predetermined threshold pressure reached in the system, thereby unloading the system.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An air system with a pressure reducing valve having a discharge port in communication with the air system and a vent comprising: a valve body, said valve body biased to form a seal between the discharge port and the vent; a governor for monitoring the air pressure in the syst

What is claimed is: 1. An air system with a pressure reducing valve having a discharge port in communication with the air system and a vent comprising: a valve body, said valve body biased to form a seal between the discharge port and the vent; a governor for monitoring the air pressure in the system, said governor generating a signal when a first threshold pressure within the system is reached; wherein, said valve body is movable against the bias in response to the signal generated by said governor, such that the discharge port is in communication with the vent thereby allowing air to escape from the system; and wherein, in the case of a governor failure when said valve body is not moved when the first threshold pressure within the system is reached, said valve body is movable against the bias in response to a second threshold pressure, greater than the first threshold pressure, within the system being reached such that the discharge port is in communication with the vent thereby allowing air to escape from the system. 2. The system defined in claim 1 wherein, said vent is in communication with an input of the air compressor thereby allowing the pressurized air to recycle through the system. 3. The system defined in claim 1 wherein, said pressure reducing valve is fitted with a vented cap to maintain atmospheric pressure behind said valve body. 4. The system defined in claim 1 wherein, said pressure reducing valve is assembled and installed in one step in a head part of a compressor. 5. The system defined in claim 1 wherein, said valve body is a piston. 6. The system defined in claim 1 wherein, said valve is a shuttle valve comprising a shuffle piston, said shuttle piston biased to form a seal between the said discharge port and said vent. 7. The system defined in claim 6 wherein, said shuttle piston is movable against the bias when the force exerted on said shuttle piston resulting from the air pressure in the system and the force resulting from said governor air pressure signal exceed the force that causes the seal between said discharge port and the vent. 8. The system defined in claim 6 wherein, said governor signal comprising an air pressure signal. 9. The system defined in claim 6 wherein, said governor air pressure signal is sent to a governor cavity, said governor cavity formed in the space defined between said shuttle piston and the shuttle valve housing. 10. An air system with a pressure reducing valve having a discharge port in communication with the air system and a vent comprising: a valve body, said valve body biased to form a seal between the discharge port and the vent; a governor for monitoring the air pressure in the system, said governor generating a signal when a first threshold pressure within the system is reached; wherein, said valve body is movable against the bias in response to the signal generated by said governor, such that the discharge port is in communication with the vent thereby allowing air to escape from the system; wherein, in the case of a governor failure when said valve body is not moved when the first threshold pressure within the system is reached, said valve body is movable against the bias in response to a second threshold pressure, greater than the first threshold pressure, within the system being reached such that the discharge port is in communication with the vent thereby allowing air to escape from the system; wherein, said vent is in communication with an input of the air compressor thereby allowing the pressurized air to recycle through the system; and wherein, said governor signal comprising an air pressure signal. 11. A pressure reducing valve system comprising: a shuttle valve; said shuttle valve consisting of a shuttle piston; said shuttle piston biased to form a seal between the discharge port and a vent; a governor to monitor the air pressure of the system, said governor generating a signal when a first threshold pressure within the system is reached; wherein, said shuttle piston is movable against the bias in response to said signal generated by said governor, such that the discharge port is in communication with the vent thereby allowing air to escape from the system; and wherein, in the case of a governor failure when said shuttle piston is not moved when the first threshold pressure within the system is reached, said shuttle piston is movable against the bias in response to a second threshold pressure, greater than the first threshold pressure, within the system being reached such that the discharge port is in communication with the vent thereby allowing air to escape from the system. 12. The system defined in claim 11 wherein, said governor signal comprising an air pressure signal. 13. The system defined in claim 11 wherein, said governor air pressure signal is sent to a governor cavity, said governor cavity formed in the space defined between said shuttle piston and the shuffle valve housing. 14. The system defined in claim 11 wherein, said shuffle piston is movable against the bias when the force exerted on said shuffle piston resulting from the air pressure in the system and the force resulting from said governor air pressure signal exceed the force that causes the seal between said discharge port and the vent. 15. The system defined in claim 11 wherein, said vent is in communication with an input of the air compressor thereby allowing the pressurized air to recycle through the system. 16. The system defined in claim 11 wherein, said shuffle valve is fitted with a vented cap to maintain atmospheric pressure behind said shuttle piston. 17. The system defined in claim 11 wherein, said pressure reducing valve is assembled and installed in one step in a head part of a compressor. 18. A pressure reducing valve system comprising: a shuffle valve; said shuttle valve consisting of a shuttle piston; said shuttle piston biased to form a seal between the discharge port and a vent; a governor to monitor the air pressure of the system, said governor generating a signal when a first threshold pressure within the system is reached; wherein, said shuffle piston is movable against the bias in response to said signal generated by said governor, such that the discharge port is in communication with the vent thereby allowing air to escape from the system; wherein, in the case of a governor failure when said shuttle piston is not moved when the first threshold pressure within the system is reached, said shuttle piston is movable against the bias in response to a second threshold pressure, greater than the first threshold pressure, within the system being reached such that the discharge port is in communication with the vent thereby allowing air to escape from the system; wherein, said shuttle piston is movable against the bias when the force exerted on said shuttle body resulting from the air pressure in the system and the force resulting from the governor signal exceed the force that causes the seal between said discharge port and the vent; wherein, said vent is in communication with an input of the air compressor thereby allowing the pressurized air to recycle through the system; wherein, said governor signal comprising an air pressure signal; wherein, said governor air pressure signal is sent to a governor cavity, said governor cavity formed in the space defined between said shuttle piston and the shuttle valve housing; and wherein, said shuttle piston is movable against the bias when the force exerted on said shuttle piston resulting from the air pressure in the system and the force resulting from said governor air pressure signal exceed the force that causes the seal between said discharge port and the vent. 19. An air system with a pressure reducing valve having a discharge port in communication with the air system and a vent comprising: a valve body, said valve body biased to form a seal between the discharge port and the vent; a governor for monitoring the air pressure in the system, said governor generating a signal when a first threshold pressure within the system is reached; wherein, said valve body is movable against the bias in response to the signal generated by said governor, such that the discharge port is in communication with the vent thereby allowing air to escape from the system; wherein, in the case of a governor failure when said valve body is not moved when the first threshold pressure within the system is reached, said valve body is movable against the bias in response to a second threshold pressure, greater than the first threshold pressure, within the system being reached such that the discharge port is in communication with the vent thereby allowing air to escape from the system; wherein, said pressure reducing valve is assembled and installed in one step in a head part of a compressor and said vent is in communication with a inlet port of said compressor; and wherein, said discharge port and said vent are positioned in the same plane. 20. An air system with a pressure reducing valve having a discharge port in communication with the air system and a vent comprising: a valve body, said valve body biased to form a seal between the discharge port and the vent; a governor for monitoring the air pressure in the system, said governor generating a signal when a first threshold pressure within the system is reached; wherein, said valve body is movable against the bias in response to the signal generated by said governor, such that the discharge port is in communication with the vent thereby allowing air to escape from the system; wherein, in the case of a governor failure when said valve body is not moved when the first threshold pressure within the system is reached, said valve body is movable against the bias in response to a second threshold pressure, greater than the first threshold pressure, within the system being reached such that the discharge port is in communication with the vent thereby allowing air to escape from the system; and wherein, said valve body has a smaller diameter and a larger diameter forming a governor chamber within the pressure reducing valve and an O-ring on the smaller diameter and an O-ring on the larger diameter portion to seal the governor chamber.